Mixing device



March 9, 1 L. A. WOLPERT MIXING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 17, 1952 Leo A. wa/ ert INVENTOR.

BY a

March 9, 1954 A. WOLPERT MIXING DEVICE Filed March 17, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Leo A. Wo/perr INVENTOR.

BY kz q Patented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 7 Claims. 1

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a reconstitutor and more specifically pertains to a mixing device for efiiciently mixing a solid or liquid material with a liquid, and which shall be capable of adjustment to accommodate different densities of materials.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a device which will facilitate the effective mixing of solids with a liquid.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a mixing device in accordance with the preceding object in which the ingredients to be mixed are circulated in an improved manner for securing a more homogeneous mixture of the same and for agitating the resultant mixture.

Yet another object of the invention is to pro vide a mixing device in conformity with the above mentioned objects in which the area of the materials to be mixed which is exposed to the liquid with which the materials are to mixed can be readily varied to adjust the agitating, circulating and mixing action in accordance with varying densities of materials.

And a final important object of the invention to be specifically enumerated herein, resides in the provision of a mixing device having the aforesaid characteristics and which shall be of inexpensive, simple and light weight construction, or a compact and durable construction and shall be highly adaptable and eificient for the purposes intended.

These, together with various and ancillary features and objects of the invention, which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a mixing device incorporating therein the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the device, taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional detailed view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4- i of Figure 3; and

. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a meterin sleeve: forming a portionof the invention,

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, it will be seen that the mixing device illustrating the principles of the invention consists of a combined base and casing member I I] in which is housed an electric motor i2 constituting power source for the device, which motor is provided with air cooling fan I i and a detachable coupling member it by which the shaft [8 of a pump impeller 26 is rotated.

At opposite ends, the casing i0 is provided with air admitting openings or louvers 22 and 24 ofv any desired character, by means of which air may be admitted through the casing and drawn therethrough by the fan It for cooling the motor.

The impeller 20 is journaled within an impeller casing 28 to thus provide centrifugal pump having an inlet port 28 disposed axially of the casing 26, and a discharge conduit 30 extending from the periphery of the casing, as shown in Figure 2.

A conventional form of box shaft packing gland 32 is provided upon the pump casing 26, and a drip collecting receptacle 34 may be provided in the casing i0 below the packing 32.

Extending from the bottom end of the pump casing 26 is a conduit 36 which may be provided with a valve control drain 38. The louvers 22 and 2d may also constitute handles whereby the device may be readily transported.

The mixing device further includes a hopper or tank t8 which may be of any desired shape or material, or may conveniently be of a sheet metal cylindrical construction having an inturned, open upper rim A2. The lower portion of the side wall of the tank 40 is downwardly converging to provide a conical lower portion 44 which its lower end terminates in a conical spout 48, the lower edge of this spout, 48, comprising a discharge opening for the tank. A discharge conduit iii connects the lower end of the spout it with the intake port 28 of the pump whereby the liquid within the tank is withdrawn from the bottom thereof, passes through the pump, and upwardly through the flexible conduit 30, which at its upper end connects with a bushing or pipe 2 extending through the converging wall 44 of the tank and having a nozzle 54 swivelly connected to its end, within the tank. Conveniently, the pipe 52 may extend through the converging wall and its position spaced downwardly from the top of the same, and the nozzle 5 5 may be angularly adjusted by meansof its swivel connection 3 with the pipe 52 to direct the spray or stream from the pump in any desired direction. Preferably, the nozzle is so adjusted as to cause the incoming stream of liquid to have a swirling or turbulent motion within the tank 4!).

At any convenient position, but preferably positioned vertically upwardly from the nozzle 54, the wall of the tank it is provided with a mixture outlet passage Or spout 56. As is best shown inFigure 3, this spout may extend for a considerable arcuate distance from the periphery of the tank, and a strainer 58 may be provided across the spout.

Disposed within the tank 48 is a receptacle 60 which may be conveniently of a cylindrical nature and of sheet metal. This receptacle is disposed axially oi the cylindrical tank, and encircles. the discharge opening in the bottom of the same, the receptacle 60 being open at its upper and lower ends, although a screen or the like may be provided across the lower end? if desired. The upper end of the receptacle preferably extends considerably above the nozzle 5-4, but below the discharge spout 56 for the mixture. The material to be mixed with the liquid and additional liquid is added through the open end of the tank it and is carried directly into the cylindrical receptacle 60 by the centrifugal and downward action and movement of the liquid. The receptacle may rest upon the converging side wall or the tank within the receptacle, or upon a screen if the latter is provided across the opening at the bottom of the receptacle.

Thereceptacle is provided with a vertically extending slot 62 opening from its lower end, this slot constituting a port by which the material within the receptacle is mixed with the liquid of the tank as set forth hereinafter.

There is a total exclusion of air from the mixture, thereby totally excluding foam from the liquid. This is realizedwhen sufficient fluid is permitted to flow over the top of receptacle 6! It will be apparent that the material within the receptacle will contact the liquid over the surface of the latter and begins actual incorporation with the liquid as they flow down through the receptacle and into the pump wherein mixing is normally completed. Any unmixed solids are ejected through nozzle 54 and are automatically remixed by entering the" mixing cycle either through the port 62 or over the top of the receptacle 60. Obviously, by varying the effective area of the slot 62, the rate of which the material is mixed with the liquid in the tank may also be controlled. In some instances, the receptacle with its slot or port as above mentioned may be satisfactory, and by means of the angularly adjustable nozzle 56, the stream of liquid from the conduit 36 may be so regulated as to either directly impinge upon the material within the receptacle through the port 62, or to have a tangential swirling movement within the tank 46.

However, it is preferred to provide a metering means for controlling the rate of the mixing of the material within the receptacle with the liquid in the tank, by varying the efiective cross sectional area of the port or slot 52. This metering means conveniently comprises a cylindrical sleeve 64, see Figure 5, which is slidingly telescoplngly received upon the exterior surface of the receptacle (it, although in some instances the sleeve may be frictionally and slidably received on the interior surfaces of the same.

The sleeve is preferably provided with a lmurled surface 66 at its upper edge which constitutes a finger grip portion whereby the sleeve may be readily rotated or moved vertically upon the receptacle, it being understood that the sleeve is normally retained in adjusted position by means of the frictional en agement of the surfaces of the sleeve within the receptacle.

The lower edge of the sleeve 64 is vertically notched or recessed as at 68, and this recess is provided with. a series of vertically and laterally spaced steps 10. Each of these steps is preferably substantially of the same width as that of the port or slot 62, so that the sleeve may be rotationally adjusted to bring any desired step in register with the slot to thereby control the effective. height and consequently the area of the slot.

It will thus be apparent that the sleeve may be rotated to restrict the effective width of the slot in conjunction with the above mentioned adjustments of the vertical height of the slot.

The sleeve and receptacle arrangement with the steps and slot provide ready means for regulating the port area of the receptacle and consequently for regulatin the rate at which the material, whether liquid or solid within the receptacle is mixed with the liquid circulating in the tank and through the circulating system. The device is thus adapted to accommodate, and properly mix liquids and materialsv of varying densities.

The device is especially useful for such purposes as mixing water or other liquid with concentrates and restore the same to their original composition. For example, powdered milk, orange juice concentrates and the like may be quickly and readily brought back to their original consistency by the device.

It is to be understood that screens may be employed wherever deemed necessary or desirable in the liquid containing and circulating system of the device.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A mixing device comprising a tank having its side wall converging at its lower end to provide an outlet, means above said outlet for reoeiving a material to be mixed, a nozzle in said tank, a pump and circulating conduit connecting said outlet and said nozzle for circulating and agitating a liquid in said tank, a mi. cure discharge means for said tank, said means about said outlet comprising a vertical, open ended receptacle in said tank supported upon the converging side wall and surrounding said outlet, said receptacle having a slot extending upwardly from its lower edge and constituting a port.

2. A mixing device comprising a tank having its side wall converging at its lower end to provide an outlet, means above said out-let for recei-ving a material to be mixed, a nozzle in said tank, a pump and circulating conduit connecting said outlet and said nozzle for circulating and agitating a liquid in said tank, a mixture discharge means for said tank, said means about said outlet comprising a vertical, open ended receptacle in said tank supported upon the converging side Wall and surrounding said outlet, said receptacle having a slot extending up- Wardly from its lower edge and constituting a port, a metering sleeve slidingly and telescopingly engaged with said receptacle for controlling said port.

3. A mixing device comprising a tank having its side Wall converging at its lower end to provide an outlet, means above said outlet for receiving a material to be mixed, a nozzle in said tank, a pump and circulating conduit connecting said outlet and said nozzle for circulating and agitating a liquid in said tank, a mixture discharge means for said tank, said means about said outlet comprising a vertical, open ended receptacle in said tank supported upon the converging side wall and surrounding said outlet, said receptacle having a slot extending upwardly from its lower edge and constituting a port, a metering sleeve slidingly and telescopingly engaged with said receptacle for controlling said port, said sleeve having a vertically and laterally stepped port registerable with said receptacle 6 port for controlling the efiective area of the latter.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said nozzle is angularly adjustable.

5. The combination of claim 3 including a screen for said outlet.

6. The combination of claim 3 including a screen for said discharge opening.

7. The combination of claim 3 wherein said sleeve is frictionally engaged and slidably and rotatably received upon said receptacle.

LEO A. WOLPERT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,192,478 Vandercook July 25, 1916 1,741,176 Wilder Dec. 31, 1929 2,270,847 Hyman Jan. 27, 1942 2,277,120 Lindsey Mar. 24, 1942 2,306,962 Kropp Dec. 29, 1942 2,342,559 Sebald et a1 Feb. 22, 1944 

